CEN/TR 17207:2018

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2018
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Playground and recreational areas - Framework for the competence of playground
inspectors
Spielplatz- und Freizeitbereiche - Kompetenzrahmen von Spielplatzprüfern
Aires de jeux et de loisirs - Cadre définissant les compétences des inspecteurs d’aires
de jeux
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 17207:2018
ICS:
97.200.40 ,JULãþD Playgrounds
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

CEN/TR 17207
TECHNICAL REPORT
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
July 2018
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
ICS 97.200.40
English Version
Playground and recreational areas - Framework for the
competence of playground inspectors
Aires de jeux et de loisirs - Cadre définissant les Spielplatz- und Freizeitbereiche - Kompetenzrahmen
compétences des inspecteurs d'aires de jeux von Spielplatzprüfern

This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 26 February 2018. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC
136.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2018 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 17207:2018 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Requirements for inspections . 11
4.1 General . 11
4.2 Levels of inspections . 11
4.3 Other inspection activities . 11
4.3.1 General . 11
4.3.2 Post-accident inspection . 11
4.3.3 Mid-installation surveillance . 11
4.3.4 Pre-Installation consultation . 11
4.4 Inspection report . 12
4.4.1 Contract between inspector and the purchaser of the inspection . 12
4.4.2 General information . 12
4.4.3 Inspection outcome . 13
4.4.4 Quality of inspection report . 13
5 Requirements for inspectors . 14
5.1 General . 14
5.2 Levels of knowledge. 14
5.3 Learning goals for level 3 . 17
5.3.1 General . 17
5.3.2 Standards / Technical reports . 17
5.3.3 Risk analysis / Risk benefit analysis . 17
5.3.4 Technical production . 18
5.3.5 Child development . 18
5.3.6 Environmental issues / Layout design . 18
5.3.7 Legislation: national laws / Jurisdiction / Responsibilities . 19
5.4 Cooperation with other parties . 19
5.4.1 General . 19
5.4.2 Code of conduct and ethics . 19
Annex A (informative) Introduction to children's play and development . 22
Annex B (informative) Risk assessment . 23
B.1 Risk assessment . 23
B.2 Advantages of risk assessment . 24
B.3 Risk-benefit analysis . 25
Annex C (informative) Risk analyses . 26
C.1 Examples of risk analyses . 26
C.2 Method 1 . 27
C.2.1 General . 27
C.2.2 Method 1 risk assessment . 28
C.3 Method 2 . 28
C.4 Method 3 . 30
C.4.1 General . 30
C.4.2 Method 3 risk assessments for 5 identified hazards . 32
Annex D (informative) Use of probes . 33
Bibliography . 34

European foreword
This document (CEN/TR 17207:2018) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 136 “Sports,
playground and other recreational facilities and equipment”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Introduction
During the process of reviewing the EN 1176 series it became clear to the CEN/TC 136/SC 1 committee
that there is a broad spectrum of competence in inspectors of playground environments. With the
specific elements involved in play, such as equipment, environment, children, etc., an inspection of a
playground environment is not solely a “technical” inspection but also requires knowledge of how and
why children of all abilities play from the inspector. Inspectors need to understand the way children
play, interact, evolve and develop to be able to make informed, balanced decisions about the safety of
the play environment.
EN 1176-1 states: “Risk taking is an essential feature of play provision and of all environments in which
children legitimately spend time playing. Play provision should aim to offer children the chance to
encounter acceptable risks as a part of a stimulating, challenging and controlled learning environment.
Play provision should aim at managing the balance between the need to offer risk and the need to keep
children safe from serious harm.” The aim should be to provide as much play value as possible and as
little safety as necessary.
In this vision on the safety of playground environments it is essential that the inspector doesn’t only
know the technical content of the related standards, but also understands why and how to make risk
assessments and/or a risk benefit analysis.
After reviewing methods of inspections around the Europe, it seems there are three main principal
ways in use:
1) Inspection of the entire play environment is including conformity of equipment and the extent of
the impact attenuating surfacing area, maintenance defects, ancillary items and be combined with a
risk assessment.
2) Checking the equipment and environment based on a risk assessment alone. This can be described
as a global inspection of the minimal level of safety of the equipment and play environment.
3) Checking the equipment referencing the relevant standards and technical reports. Broadly this can
be described as a ‘conformity inspection’. This option specifically excludes the play environment
because there is no standard available for it.
The recommended approach is the first, which is broadly applicable in Europe; it is acknowledged by
authors of this European Technical report that cultural differences play an important role in the
inspection process and outcome. Each member state should publish this Technical Report, the
implementation of the guidance is determined at a National level.
Regardless to popularity of method three, checking the equipment without identifying hazards,
undertaking risk assessment and/or risk-benefit analysis, is a very restrictive inspection. The outcome
of this option can be in contradiction with the statement about risk taking in the introduction of
EN 1176-1.
The way in which children play and the public perception of children’s play varies from country to
country and with this in mind it is vital that the inspector is aware of the cultural differences that exist.
The inspector will need to be familiar with what is an acceptable level of risk or challenge for the
country in which they are employed or contracted.
For example, there is a big difference in the approach on the subject of water in the direct
neighbourhood of play environment in the Netherlands compared to other countries in the EU. This is a
result of the never ending struggle in The Netherlands to acquire more space to live. And so building
“on” or in the close proximity of water is a necessity. Children are educated from early age on how to
deal with this potential danger in their daily lives and have from early age an elevated awareness of this
danger.
Cultural and socioeconomic differences cannot and may never be an argument to withhold children
from a beneficial risk/challenge while playing.
This document is based on the text contained within EN 1176 series and the working group accepts that
there may be variations in working practices in different countries. Irrespective of established systems,
inspectors need to have necessary competence to undertake the tasks.
The lack of safety knowledge by some pr
...